The Federal Aviation Administration is directing $26 million toward expanding the nation’s pipeline of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians, in a move U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said is aimed at developing the next generation of aviation professionals.
The funding, announced in Washington, D.C., will support Aviation Workforce Development Grants focused on both aircraft pilots and aviation maintenance technical workers. The FAA said the money will back aviation training programs that equip future pilots with technical skills, apprenticeships and internships that provide hands-on experience, and outreach initiatives designed to boost student recruitment into aviation careers. The agency also plans to support training that uses modern tools such as flight simulators.
Eligible applicants include schools, aviation organizations, aviation-related nonprofit groups, air carriers, labor organizations, and state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. Projects must be submitted by June 18, 2026, through the federal grants portal.
The initiative comes amid long-term forecasts of significant demand for pilots and maintenance technicians across the global aviation sector. FAA officials frame the grants as part of a broader effort to ensure a steady supply of qualified personnel for an increasingly complex aerospace system.